RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the characteristics of growth, and water-soluble polysaccharide and total alkaloid accumulation in protocom-like bodies (PLBs) of Dendrobium huoshanenese in liquid culture system.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>PLBs were suspended in liquid medium and growth kinetics was analyzed. Water-soluble polysaccharide and total alkaloid content in PLBs were determined by colorimetry.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>PLBs were induced from stem explants of D. huoshanenese regenerants cultured on MS medium supplemented with NAA or NAA and KT at different concentrations. Basal MS medium was suitable for propagation of PLBs. When PLBs were suspended in liquid medium, mumax was 0.044.d-1, t(d) was 15.8 d and the optimum growth time was 4 weeks. Water-soluble polysaccharide and total alkaloid contents in PLBs were 3.75% and 0.0261%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PLBs in liquid culture system show a potential for rapid growth and high metabolite synthesis, which provides possibility for exploiting resources of D. huoshanenese by large scale culture of PLBs.</p>
